1 John 4:2 nasb — By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God;

NASB

"By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God;"

— 1 John 4:2, NASB

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1 John 4:2 in Other Translations

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1 John 4 — Context

1

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

2

By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God;

3

and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.

4

You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

5

They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them.

1 John 4:2 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 John 4:2 say?
1 John 4:2 in the NASB reads: “By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God;”
Where is 1 John 4:2 in the Bible?
1 John 4:2 is found in the New Testament, in the book of 1 John, chapter 4, verse 2.
Who wrote 1 John?
1 John is traditionally attributed to John the Apostle. It was written c. AD 85–95.
What is the book of 1 John about?
John writes to help believers know they have eternal life. Three tests run through the letter: do you walk in the light, love one another, and confess that Jesus is the Christ come in the flesh? Where these are present, assurance follows.
What are the major themes of 1 John?
1 John explores themes including Assurance, Love, Light, Truth vs. Error, Eternal Life. These themes shape the meaning and context of 1 John 4:2.
What translation should I read 1 John 4:2 in?
1 John 4:2 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 1 John 4:2?
1 John 4:2 reads (NASB): “By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God;” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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